Today, I cast my vote for Barack Obama. I didn't ever believe I would live this moment in my lifetime, often times believing that a female, even a Black female would be President before a Black man and again believing that neither would be President in my lifetime. This may still be the case but it won’t be because I didn’t cast my vote. I probably would have noted this occurrence as surreal but this historic political process of campaigning has made what I did today, more real than ever. Barack Obama, with his brilliant campaign and plan for change, has truly earned my vote.
Why vote early? For me, it was two-fold. First, I honor that tomorrow is not promised. I wanted my vote cast today, a day I know I’m alive and healthy enough to make it to the polls. My car is working perfectly, no unplanned engine light or flat tire. And isn’t that just how crucial each vote will be in this election? Although I don’t foresee not being alive and healthy on November 4th, I also did not foresee a year ago being privileged to cast my vote for Barack Obama. But that’s how swift change can come. Not even funny, but if my car breaks down or worst, if I’m dead on November 4th, today I voted for Barack Obama.
Second and more the case, I wanted my 17 year old daughter to once again travel to the polls with her parents to vote (her first conversation about voting occurred at age 5 on the way to vote for President Clinton), starting her early in the process of understanding the value of making it to the polls and casting a vote. This is my daughter’s, at least 4th time to a polling location and she won’t be eligible to vote until the next election. By her going with me today, my daughter will have a chance to surely go with her mom to vote on or before November 4. My daughter making it to the polls with us twice is how a 17 year old can vote. Her mom will vote for Barack, but today, her daddy VOTED (past tense) for Barack Obama.
I remember standing in the lines of the last election, feeling discouraged at the tricks the Republican Party pulled to steal the election, before and after voting. After the election, let’s just say Florida. But even before Election Day, it was the promotion of gay marriage concerns that had many, even registered Democrats placing a vote to put George Bush back in office. For them and others that voted based on this one divisive issue, I ask - for that one issue (which has been ironically absent from this election – guess they couldn’t pull the same trick twice) – was it worth sacrificing our economy, the price of gas, so much more to continue Bush’s even then failing economic policies and tunnel vision view of the Iraq War? Was it really worth it?
Another reason I voted today was because I don’t need another debate, another joke of an answer or sentence to nowhere from Palin or McCain, another on-point Saturday Night Live spoof to help me decide my vote. Today, I voted for Barack Obama. Not just because he is Black, but too because he is a Black man and the best person up for the challenge of leading our Nation, restoring the promise of America.
What a historic moment in our history! I’m so proud to be an American.
Why vote early? For me, it was two-fold. First, I honor that tomorrow is not promised. I wanted my vote cast today, a day I know I’m alive and healthy enough to make it to the polls. My car is working perfectly, no unplanned engine light or flat tire. And isn’t that just how crucial each vote will be in this election? Although I don’t foresee not being alive and healthy on November 4th, I also did not foresee a year ago being privileged to cast my vote for Barack Obama. But that’s how swift change can come. Not even funny, but if my car breaks down or worst, if I’m dead on November 4th, today I voted for Barack Obama.
Second and more the case, I wanted my 17 year old daughter to once again travel to the polls with her parents to vote (her first conversation about voting occurred at age 5 on the way to vote for President Clinton), starting her early in the process of understanding the value of making it to the polls and casting a vote. This is my daughter’s, at least 4th time to a polling location and she won’t be eligible to vote until the next election. By her going with me today, my daughter will have a chance to surely go with her mom to vote on or before November 4. My daughter making it to the polls with us twice is how a 17 year old can vote. Her mom will vote for Barack, but today, her daddy VOTED (past tense) for Barack Obama.
I remember standing in the lines of the last election, feeling discouraged at the tricks the Republican Party pulled to steal the election, before and after voting. After the election, let’s just say Florida. But even before Election Day, it was the promotion of gay marriage concerns that had many, even registered Democrats placing a vote to put George Bush back in office. For them and others that voted based on this one divisive issue, I ask - for that one issue (which has been ironically absent from this election – guess they couldn’t pull the same trick twice) – was it worth sacrificing our economy, the price of gas, so much more to continue Bush’s even then failing economic policies and tunnel vision view of the Iraq War? Was it really worth it?
Another reason I voted today was because I don’t need another debate, another joke of an answer or sentence to nowhere from Palin or McCain, another on-point Saturday Night Live spoof to help me decide my vote. Today, I voted for Barack Obama. Not just because he is Black, but too because he is a Black man and the best person up for the challenge of leading our Nation, restoring the promise of America.
What a historic moment in our history! I’m so proud to be an American.
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